Posts by red51

A basic tutorial is available, you currently find it on our IndieDB page: Tutorial overview page

Find the script of the tutorial in attachment.

To create a new script, go to the "scripts" folder inside your game folder (if it does not exist, simply create it). Now create a new folder named as your script (for example "MyScript"), and create the following files which are required:

• A file called "definition.xml" which contains all information about the script (template: definition.xml)
• The scriptfile itself (must be a .lua file)

The script must contain the event "onEnable()" (see below, of course the comment is not necessary):

function onEnable()
    -- this event is triggered when the script is loaded
end

Finally, one more hint: If using this feature in singleplayer, it's recommended to enable the debug console (open the "config.properties" in your game folder and change the line "game_debug_console" to true). The reason is, that if any error in your script occurs, it will give an output to the console pointing to the erroneous line in your lua script. This is extremely helpful when developing a script.

Happy scripting!

Since you find an application example in the recent changelog, here just some main information about the new Lua scripting functionality:

This feature allows you to take control of the game flow. You write external scripts in Lua, a powerful and easy to learn script language (more information: http://www.lua.org/), and load them into the game (when starting the server). Your script gets notified of all relevant events, for example when a player dies, or destroys a block, or changes his position. Generally you receive further information with every event, so you know which block the player has destroyed, or which is the new position of the player. You're also able to cancel most events, preventing them from execution, i.e. the block won't get destroyed, or the player stays alive, or the player gets teleported back to his previous position.

You're also able to call different functions, e.g. change the player health, or spawn an item. One special feature is the ability to create own GUI elements for the player, so you can display some texts on the players screen (useful to provide him some information, or simply to advertise your homepage). You can currently create labels and panels. Of course you can freely determine the position, color and size of those elements, among some more properties (e.g. border etc.).

Another special case is the chat: When a players writes something into the chat, beginning with a "/", it's recognized as command and won't be shown in the global chat, but send as a "command"-event to your script. So you can - for example - create a command called "/changetime" to change the current time, or "/rules" to display your serverrules.

It should also be noted that this feature has full sqlite support, allowing you to store some data in a database.

We will provide something a documentation and an example script as quick as possible. Watch the new section "Lua Scripting": http://forum.concept-game.net/…p/Board/18-Lua-Scripting/

Finally, a few screenshots. Since it's not easy to show screenshots of this new feature, I guess it's the best to give you some screenshots related to the application example in the changelog thread

Here you see how an area is created during runtime. The selector has been enabled with a simple command. Now another command saves the selected area in the database with the provided name:

Now when entering this area, a small text is displayed in the left bottom of your screen, showing the name of the current area (in this case the area is called "Kitchen"):

This is what it might look like when having several areas, especially in a hotel. It is intended that you can slightly see other areas through walls. Every area you see is saved in a database, and can be displayed with a simple command (please keep in mind that everything is done by a script):

As promised, here is the new update!

It gives you the ability to write custom gamemodes in Lua. You can compare this feature a little bit to the scripting functionality of Garry's Mod, or SA:MP or MTA.
A typical use case: You create a multiplayerserver and build a hotel. Now you want to make sure that nobody destroys the building, so you can write a script that protects everything within a specified area from destruction. Maybe you bind this to different groups, so that players assigned to a group "admins" still can modify the hotel (just as an example). Next, players should be able to rent a room in your hotel; they are not allowed to destroy the room, but they're allowed to place own objects (like furniture) in the room. So you define more areas in your script, according to your hotel's rooms, and specify that the player who rented a room can place objects, but cannot destroy walls for example.

It's also possible to show elements on the player's gui, for example labels. So when entering an area, you can display the according roomnumber, or the name of the owner etc.
In addition, commands are also supported (i.e. everything you type in your chat, beginning with "/"), so a lot can be defined during runtime (e.g. specify the owner of an area etc.).

This is mainly a multiplayer feature, but works also in singleplayer.

Find more information here: Lua Scripting

A few other changes were also done, for example you're now able to sleep in your bed or in a tent to skip the night.

Here is the full changelog (looks quite short, but the scripting feature should compensate that).

---------------------------------------------------------------

Changelog:

• [New] Added Lua scripting functionality to the game which allows you to write custom gamemodes
  
  
  • Notification about different events, e.g. when a player places a block, or a player dies, or changes his position etc.
  • Cancel an event to prevent it to be executed. For example: Cancel the "place block" event, so the block won't be placed, or cancel the "player die" event, so the player won't die
  • Ability to receive every input a players types in his chat beginning with "/" (commands)
  • You can split your script into several files (to keep your code clear and good readable)
  • You can load as many scripts as you want
  • Ability to create own GUI elements individually for each player (currently labels and panels)
• [New] You're now able to interact with beds and tents
• [New] Ability to sleep to skip the night
• [Bugfix] Fixed a problem when returning to main menu (not all elements have been reset)
• [Bugfix] Fixed a bug that did not let you press the "respawn" button after your death

Thanks, especially in this initial phase of development every form of advertising helps us

And yes, we're working tirelessly on new updates, there is still much to do, but we will not give up on it so quickly

Glad to hear that everything works now!

And you may ask as many questions as you want, that's absolutely no problem Unfortunetely, torches are currently disabled. At least you cannot place them, but you can hold them in your hand (then they also spend light, as well as the lightstick and flashlight).
For debugging purposes, you can also press L at the moment to create a lightsource that follows you. Of course this function will be disabled as soon as torches are working again.
Expect them to be working soon

//Edit: Wait... did you extract the files from the archive? Or do you run the game within the .zip?

Really? Usually you don't have to download the game everytime, only if an update is available. That's strange... What OS are you using? Were all gamefiles downloaded into the same folder of the concept.exe respectively the concept.jar?

Hi folks,

today another short preview of the next update

With the next update, Lua scripting will be available in Concept. You can create your own custom gamemodes, which will influence the gameplay. There are several events and functions to get the current status of the gameworld or change any current parameters (for example change player health or position, spawn an item, create an object etc).
Database features are also available.

This feature is especially interesting for multiplayer: For example you can write a simple area protection script to determine which player can create or destroy structures in a specified area (compare it to the Towny plugin for Minecraft)...

...or introduce something like factions or jobs...

...or create an arena where players can fight each other to win a prize...

...or create just something like Deathmatch or Capture-The-Flag, even if this is not originally intended by the game.

You see, there are many possibilities

The update is nearly done and will probably be available within this week.

Ja, vorerst noch. Das wird demnächst im gleichen Zuge behoben, wenn auch Gras nicht mehr durch Objekte hindurchscheinen wird.

Wir hatten die Priorität erstmal darauf gelegt, Gras überhaupt schneiden zu können, und auch, dass es nicht mehr durch Blöcke hindurchguckt

Hallo Leute,

hier ein paar Informationen zu den neuen Möglichkeiten hinsichtlich des Schneidens von Gras, und ebenso auch zur neuen Weltgenerierung

Es kann nun eine Sichel an der Werkbank gecrafted werden, womit das Gras geschnitten werden kann. Momentan wird das Gras komplett entfernt, wenn man es schneidet, in den nächsten Updates werden wir das noch abändern, sodass Gras nur gekürzt wird und auch ebenfalls nachwachsen kann.
Gras verschwindet außerdem automatisch, sobald Blöcke platziert werden. Gras verschwindet hingegen noch nicht, wenn Objekte platziert werden, das ist leider noch nicht implementiert.

Die nächste große Änderung ist die neue Weltgenerierung. Es ermöglicht detailliertere Strukturen und ebenso strukturiertere Texturen. Die Höhlengenerierung ist davon ebenfalls betroffen, d.h. Höhlen treten nun häufiger auf und haben vor allem auch tiefere Gänge.
Ein weiterer Aspekt ist die Fähigkeit, Löcher mit viel größerer Präzision zu graben. Der Vorteil daran ist, dass das sehr hilfreich sein kann wenn bspw. eine Baugrube ausgehoben werden soll. Der Nachteil ist, dass Löcher nun etwas "künstlicher" aussehen.

Sagt uns, was ihr von der neuen Weltgenerierung haltet. Wenn ihr sie nicht mögt, könnt ihr das hier im Forum diskutieren

Zu guter Letzt ein paar Screenshots.

Hier eine Baugrube (was haben wir damit gemeint, als wir sagten "mit größerer Präzision graben"):

Hier die gleiche Grube, allerdings mit hochgezogenen Wänden. Beachtet, dass die Wände und das Gelände bündig sind:

Hier zwei weitere Screenshots bzgl. der "Bündigkeit":

Zum Schluss noch ein Resultat vom "Grasschneiden"

Hi folks,

here are some information about the new ability to cut grass and especially the new worldgeneration algorithm

You can now craft a sickle at the workbench, that enables you to cut grass wherever you want. Currently you completly remove grass when cutting it, the next updates will introduce the ability for grass to regrow.
Grass also automatically disappears when placing a block. It still does not disappear when placing an objects, that's not implemented yet.

The next major improvement is the new worldgeneration algorithm. It allows more sharp features and a more structured texturing. Cavegeneration is also influenced by that, i.e. caves are more frequent and especially deeper now.
Another aspect is the ability to dig holes with a higher precision now. The good thing is, that this helps you when excavating a construction pit. The bad thing is, that holes looks a little bit more "artificial" now.

Tell us what you thing about the new worldgeneration. If you don't like it, discuss it here

Last but not least, a few screenshots.

A construction pit (this we meant with "higher precision when digging"):

Here is the same pit, but with walls. Notice that the walls are flush with the terrain:

Two more screenshots about the flushness:

Finally the result of cutting grass

Here it is, the new update!

As we already talked about, it changes the worldgeneration and introduces the ability to cut grass. Find more information here: Cutting grass and new worldgeneration

Note: Due to the changes in worldgeneration, your current world needs to be converted (of course creating a new world is not affected by this). This happens automatically (you see a notification while loading), but maybe it's required to manually adapt the world at certain places (conversion may lead to flying rocks etc.).

---------------------------------------------------------------

Changelog:

• [New] Ability to cut grass
• [New] New tool to cut grass, a sickle (can be crafted at the workbench)
• [New] Objectselector is now transparent, to make it easier to distinguish it from placed objects
• [New] Rudimentary ability to fill holes in the terrain, simply right click when holding a stone or clod of earth etc.
• [Changed] New worldgeneration algorithm:
  
  
  • Caves are more frequent and deeper now
    
  • You're now able to dig holes with higher precision
    
  • World contains sharper features
    
  • World generation is faster now
• [Changed] Blocks no longer influences the terrain
• [Changed] 'Cracks' when hitting a block are now restricted to the block you actually hit
• [Changed] Lightscattering effect has been adjusted a little bit
• [Bugfix] Flickering selectors (see Bugtracker) when placing objects or blocks should be fixed now
• [Bugfix] Audio settings can be changed now correctly
• [Bugfix] Fixed an erroneous sound when placing blocks

Auf jeden Fall, du bist nicht der einzige, den das Gras gestört hat

Hier eine Übersicht:

• Die Weltgenerierung wurde wie gesagt verändert, was zu raueren Oberflächen und strukturierteren Texturen führt (ein netter Nebeneffekt ist, dass die Weltgenerierung auch schneller vonstatten geht)
• Die Höhlengenerierung wurde ebenfalls angepasst, sodass es mehr Höhlen und vor allem auch längere Höhlengänge gibt
• Mit der Spitzhacke können jetzt deutlich präzisere Löcher gegraben werden, was zB Vorhaben wie das Ausheben einer Baugrube für Keller etc. massiv erleichtert
• Gras kann wie gesagt geschnitten werden, und wird auch automatisch angepasst wenn Blöcke oder Objekte platziert werden (damit wird das besagte Problem, dass Grashalme durch Blöcke etc. hindurchragen, behoben)
• Der Objektselector (also die Vorschau beim Platzieren) ist fortan transparent, wodurch er von bereits existierenden Objekten leichter zu unterscheiden ist
• Das Platzieren von Blöcken wird keinen Einfluss mehr auf das Terrain haben. Das bedeutet, dass zB Kellerwände nun bündig mit dem Terrain gebaut werden können, ohne dass Lücken zwischen Wand und Terrain entstehen *
• Das Terrain kann wieder aufgeschüttet werden, was i.V.m. zuvor genannten Punkt natürlich hilfreich ist *

Darüberhinaus natürlich üblicherweise auch diverse Bugfixes (zB flackernder Selector) und Schönheitskorrekturen (zB die Risse beim Abbauen von Terrain/Blöcken angepasst)

Ebenso haben wir bereits Vorkehrungen für das darauffolgende Update getroffen, welches ein paar größere Überraschungen mit sich bringen wird

Hinweis: Die mit * markierten Punkte sind noch nicht vollständig umgesetzt, d.h. es gibt keine Garantie, dass das bis morgen auch tatsächlich drin ist. Falls nicht, wird es aber zügig nachgereicht.

Noch haben wir keine direkte Verwendung für Gras geplant. Mal sehen, inwieweit wir Strohdächer o.ä. anbieten werden, diese werden wahrscheinlich erst im Zuge des komplexeren Bausystems relevant sein.
Eine Verwendung von Stroh/Heu für das mittelalterliche Bett wäre allerdings überlegenswert

Sounds good! Glad to hear that everything seems to work now

Not bad I like your suggestion, and yes, when I talked about "electric tools", I meant something like a mower But it might take some time until you get the riding mower, since vehicles aren't implemented at all, and we currently have some higher priority goals (especially animals and monsters)

Hi,

Quote

Haben die raueren Berghänge auch physikalische Auswirkungen (ist das Gelände steiler geworden?) oder handelt es sich hier eher um eine optische Änderung?

die raueren Berghänge haben auch entsprechende physikalische Auswirkung. Dadurch kann es an einigen Stellen durchaus sein, dass es steiler geworden ist Das wird sich auch an Höhlen bemerkbar machen, deren Wände nun auch spürbar rauer wurden.

Quote

Wächst geschnittenes Gras automatisch nach oder ist dazu ein Aktion erforderlich?

Das soll normalerweise nachwachsen. Haben wir noch nicht implementiert, aber wollen wir - wenn alles planmäßig verläuft - noch bis Veröffentlichung des Updates einbauen. Gras wird erstmal aber nur nachwachsen, wenn es auch wirklich nur geschnitten und nicht umgegraben wurde.
Mal sehen, auf welche Weise wir das zumindestens erstmal anbieten können, Gras ggf. nachzupflanzen

Viele Grüße

Indeed! We're extremely sorry for this issue, we did some work on our servers last night, it looks like there is something messed up. We will fix this as fast as possible and notify you when downloading works again.

Sorry again for any inconvenience this have caused!